Senzangakhona Co-operative

The Newcastle Satellite Office was approached by members of Senzanagakhona Co-operative for financial assistance to purchase the land which they had been leasing for a period of 6 years. The landowners have given them the first preference to buy it but it was also available for open market. These people have been farming for a period over 9 years; they have leased the farms around Normandien.

They are said to be successful farmers since they started the business on their own with no assistance from any institution. They approached the office with operational legal entity called Senzangakhona Cooperative which means “are we doing it right”. This cooperative has entered into Lease Agreement with the State for a period of three years.

There are 32 beneficiaries, 10 are hands-on on the business operation and 22 are occasionally involved in the business.

ACQUISITION OF THIS FARM

These are Emerging Black Commercial Farmers who have been farming this farm for a period of 6 years and through the profit they were able to pay the rent to the land without any assistance from any institution. The land has been just transferred to the State in February 2011 using the PLAS Land acquisition mechanism. The beneficiaries have entered into Trial Lease period with the State for period of 3 years.

The total extent of land is 1 197 hectares which amounted R 4 750 000.00 and about 33 500.00 was used for transfer costs.

FARM OPERATIONS

These people are using the land for production purpose and there is no one residing on the property except the herdsmen staying on the old farm house which was used by previous land owners for residential purposes. The farm is diving into four grazing camps with poor fencing at other sections. There is area for winter and summer grazing and enough water in the property. They keep about 360 herds of cattle, 30 goats and 25 sheep on the property. They are selling twice a year in the sale yard with the assistance of Kirton Auctioneers. They used get between R140 000.00 and R 180 000.00 per annum in livestock and about R 50 000.00 from the cutting of bales and sell them. The farm has got cattle handling facilities including the dieping tank which needs upgrade.